George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021
Floor Speech
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The gentlewoman just said that there was no defunding of the police. I would just point out Democrat-controlled cities around the country:
Austin, Texas, $150 million cut;
Baltimore, Maryland, $22 million;
Boston, $12 million;
Burlington, $1 million;
Columbus, $23 million;
Denver, $55 million;
Eureka, California, $1.2 million;
Hartford, $2 million;
Los Angeles, $175 million;
Madison, Wisconsin, $2 million;
Minneapolis, $8 million;
New York, $1 billion;
Norman, $865,000;
Oakland, $14.6 million;
Oklahoma City, $5.5 million;
Philadelphia, $33 million;
Portland, Oregon, $15 million;
Salt Lake City, $5.3 million;
San Francisco, $120 million;
Seattle, $69 million;
Washington, D.C., $15 million cut.
That is what Democrats have done over the last year.
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Mr. Speaker, the majority leader just said: Enough, my colleagues, enough.
I couldn't agree more.
Last summer, Democrats called for unrest in the streets. They raised bail money for rioters. They called antifa a myth. They voted and pushed for defunding the police all across this country.
Guess what? When you call for unrest in the streets while there is unrest in the streets, guess what happens?
You get more unrest in the streets.
When you raise money to bail out rioters, guess what happens?
You get more rioters.
When you call antifa a myth, guess what happens?
You get more attacks on property and on people.
Guess what also happens when you call for defunding the police?
You get more crime.
And when you fail to condemn violence--all violence, whether it happens on January 6 or last summer--you get more violence.
Everyone understands that. Everyone should understand that, but it seems Democrats don't.
We had a bill in the House, just like Senator Scott's bill, and Representative Stauber was the sponsor. Last year, when we had a markup, we offered 12 amendments in committee. They wouldn't take any of them. Some of the amendments, the Democrats actually supported them. But nope, nope, got to be this bill.
They didn't want to work with us to deal with the real concern, because we all know what happened to Mr. Floyd was as wrong as wrong could be. We were willing to work, but, no, they wouldn't take any of our amendments and said the things they said last summer. We should work together on this, but they don't want to. They don't want to do it.
They want their own bill. They don't want Republicans to vote for it. They want to play politics. We would actually like to solve the problem. We would actually like to solve the problem.
You know what else happens when you call for defunding the police?
The police retire. There is a 72 percent increase in retirement of police officers in New York City alone. Think of what it is like around the country. That is what happens when you send the message that Democrats sent all last summer. It is wrong. We shouldn't stand for it.
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Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, I will just point out that the Speaker of the House said we should respect the police, but the Speaker of the House named an individual to conduct a review of the breach of the Capitol on January 6, and that individual has insulted the very police who protect us.
Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. Greene).
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Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, the chairman of the committee has said several times that Democrats are not for defunding the police, but I would just point out the individual presiding over this session said that defunding the police is not a slogan, it is a policy demand.
Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Davidson).
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Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, you said: Defunding the police is not a slogan; it is a policy demand.
Over 20 cities in this great country enacted that. They did that to the tune of $1.7 billion taken from the brave men and women who protect us all. That is our concern.
We would have loved to have worked with the other side. We had a bill. Senator Scott worked tirelessly on it. Representative Stauber, former police officer Stauber, on our side worked night and day on it. But Democrats wouldn't work with us, wouldn't take any of our amendments.
This is a partisan, political bill, unfortunately. That is why I urge a ``no'' vote.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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